Unit 5 of the Hongyanhe nuclear power plant in China's Liaoning province has attained a sustained chain reaction for the first time. The 1080 MWe domestically-designed ACPR1000 pressurised water reactor is expected to be connected to the grid later this year, after which it will enter commercial operation.

An increase in the concentration of noble gases in the primary circuit of the Taishan 1 EPR is related to a few damaged fuel rods, China's National Nuclear Safety Administration confirmed today. It said the increase is "a common phenomenon" and is still in accordance with the requirements of the plant's operating technical specifications. Earlier this week, France's Framatome - which designed the EPR - said the unit was experiencing a "performance issue".

Unit 1 of the Taishan nuclear power plant is operating at full power and there has been no release of radiation at the plant or in the surrounding area, China General Nuclear announced yesterday following media reports of a leak at the plant in China's Guangdong province. France's EDF, which holds a 30% stake in the two-unit plant, said it had been informed of an increase in the concentration of certain noble gases in the EPR reactor's primary circuit.

The construction of a demonstration ACP100 small modular reactor at Changjiang in Hainan province has been approved by China's National Development and Reform Commission. The multi-purpose 125 MWe pressurised water reactor - also referred to as the Linglong One - is designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination.

Unit 6 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province has entered commercial operation, having successfully completed a 100-hour continuous operation test run at full power. Tianwan 6 becomes China National Nuclear Corporation's 24th reactor in commercial operation, increasing the company's installed generating capacity from 21.391 GWe to 22.509 GWe (gross).

Work on Tianwan units 7 and 8 and Xudabao units 3 and 4 was launched today at a ceremony attended via video-link by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The four VVER-1200 reactors are part of a series of strategic agreements Russia and China signed in 2018. According to a Kremlin statement, the two heads of state witnessed the pouring of first concrete for Tianwan unit 7.

Unit 6 at the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province was connected to the grid for the first time yesterday, according to the China Nuclear Energy Association. The milestone - at 8.27pm local time - marked the unit's entry into the grid-connected commissioning phase.

The sixth Poloidal Field coil of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor was inserted into the fusion machine's tokamak pit on April 21. The milestone marks the beginning of the assembly of ITER's magnet system, which will control the shape and stability of the ITER plasma. First plasma at ITER - in Cadarache, France - is planned for 2025, with deuterium-tritium fusion experiments commencing in 2035.

Kazatomprom has announced the signing of a sale and purchase agreement for the sale of a 49% share of Ortalyk LLP to a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Corporation, subject to conditions and governmental approvals.

The loading of fuel assemblies into the core of the reactor of unit 6 at the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province began on 14 April, China National Nuclear Corporation has announced. The domestically-designed ACPR1000 reactor is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of this year.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has been awarded its first contract for nuclear power instrumentation and controls in the Chinese nuclear market. The South Korean company signed a contract with China Techenergy Company on 29 March to supply an Industrial Anti-seismic Protection System for units 3 and 4 of the planned Xudapu nuclear power plant in China's Liaoning province.

First concrete has been poured today for the basemat of unit 3 at the Changjiang nuclear power plant in China's Hainan province. The move came after the National Nuclear Safety Administration issued a construction licence to China Huaneng Group for the construction of units 3 and 4 at the site. The Hualong One units will be the first large pressurised water reactor project in which Huaneng will hold a controlling stake.